Dan Brownish Wins Copyright Case

Reuters (and lots to a greater extent than sources) report that the authors of The Holy Blood in addition to the Holy Grail have lost their copyright claim against Dan Brown, writer of The Da Vinci Code. More to follow when the judgment becomes available.

STOP PRESS: the BBC website adds:

"The Da Vinci Code writer Dan Brown did non breach (sic) the copyright of an before book, London's High Court has ruled. ... Mr Brown said the verdict "shows that this claim was utterly without merit ... I'm even in addition to hence astonished that these 2 authors chose to file their conform at all". The ruling clears the agency for the Da Vinci Code motion-picture present to come upwardly out inwards May.

BATTLE OF THE BOOKS

The Da Vinci Code, author: Dan Brown
Published 2003; global sales: 40m+

The Holy Blood in addition to the Holy Grail, authors: Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln
Published 1982; global sales: 2m+

... Mr Justice Peter Smith, said The Holy Blood in addition to the Holy Grail did non convey a primal theme: "It was an artificial creation for the purposes of the litigation working dorsum from the Da Vinci Code", he ruled. Dan Brown did exercise the previous mass to write sure as shooting parts of his thriller, the guess decided - exactly did non substantially re-create their work".

Leonardo da Vinci (right) was non available for comment. Merpel says, directly we've finished amongst Jesus, it's Judas' turn.

is quite pleased that this over in addition to that people won't decease on bespeak him who he thinks is going to win.